Jacob Elordi felt 'quite stuck' in his career. 'Frankenstein' made him feel 'reborn.'

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.Jacob Elordi felt 'quite stuck' in his career. 'Frankenstein' made him feel 'reborn.

- - USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.Jacob Elordi felt 'quite stuck' in his career. 'Frankenstein' made him feel 'reborn.'

Brian Truitt, USA TODAYOctober 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM

Frankenstein's monster is a tortured fellow who's not a big fan of flames. But Jacob Elordi is catching fire as Guillermo del Toro's Creature.

Going from Elvis Presley to Victor Frankenstein's equally iconic creation might not be the most expected career path. And Elordi's character in "Frankenstein" (in select theaters Oct. 17, streaming Nov. 7 on Netflix) is certainly a more attractive sight than Boris Karloff's neck-bolted guy from the 1931 horror classic. But inhabiting this patchwork outcast has sparked a creative resurgence (and rave reviews) for the 28-year-old Australian star, plus some real Oscar buzz.

"Everything in this role has been divine to me," Elordi says.

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Jacob Elordi plays the Creature in Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein."

Del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel casts Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who wants to create life. His experiment involves taking disparate body parts and organs from dead soldiers and other men to craft his Creature.

With help from his brother William (Felix Kammerer) and fiancée Elizabeth (Mia Goth) – and financing from her uncle, Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz) – Victor's plans come to fruition. But when he's disappointed with the Creature's newborn intelligence, he tries to kill his creation via inferno. The Creature survives, becomes smarter and even eloquent, and vengefully chases Frankenstein all the way to the Arctic.

Oscar Isaac (left), Guillermo del Toro and Jacob Elordi before the premiere of "Frankenstein" at Venice Film Festival.

To become this being, the 6-foot-5 "Euphoria" star underwent a daily 10-hour process involving 42 prosthetics. Going in, Elordi "had no expectations, sincerely," he admits. "I had seen the (Karloff) film, but I knew (the Creature) couldn't be that. So for me, it was just a complete revelation.

"When I opened my eyes and it was on, you leak," he says, making a hand motion hinting that tears were involved. "It was so incredibly beautiful to see it, and it was exactly what I wanted it to be."

Elordi felt transformed in the makeup chair "and as soon as the teeth went in, everything else was gone. Like, everything would fall away."

Unlike other Frankenstein's monsters, such as Karloff, or Robert De Niro in a 1994 adaptation of Shelley's novel, Elordi's Creature is rather attractive in his own way. Del Toro was inspired by the 1818 source material, where Victor says, "His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful."

"Why would you think about something for 25 years and not make it good?" del Toro says. "I thought he was projecting himself in his work, like a director does. For me, Victor is the director, Harlander is the studio, and the Creature is the film."

Jacob Elordi starred as Elvis Presley opposite Cailee Spaeny's title character in the historical drama "Priscilla."

Elordi came on Hollywood's radar in the 2018 Netflix coming-of-age romantic comedy "The Kissing Booth," and then a year later starred alongside fellow up-and-comers like Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney in HBO's teen drama "Euphoria." But del Toro thought he could be his Creature after seeing Elordi's range in two 2023 films, "Priscilla" and "Saltburn."

The moment in "Priscilla" where "Elvis loses it is really scary and physical," del Toro says, and he was also impressed by "the mutation of the character in 'Saltburn' from possible victim to sort of a righteous entitled rage." What really won Elordi the job was their Zoom chat. "Some actors, the moment you make contact, you already know them, and you already have years of friendship, even if you just met them," del Toro says. "That happened to me. I instantly trusted him."

Guillermo del Toro, known for his stunning dark fantasy and gothic horror films, is breathing new life into Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz round out the film's cast. Fans of the gothic lit book can see Elordi portray Frankenstein's Monster in theaters Oct. 17 and then stream on Netflix Nov. 7. The cast celebrated the Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 6 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Scroll through for more photos from the gothic black carpet.

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, known for his stunning dark fantasy and gothic horror films, is breathing new life into Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz round out the film's cast. Fans of the gothic lit book can see Elordi portray Frankenstein's Monster in theaters Oct. 17 and then stream on Netflix Nov. 7. The cast celebrated the Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 6 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Scroll through for more photos from the gothic black carpet.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/bmXigdE class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, known for his stunning dark fantasy and gothic horror films, is breathing new life into Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz round out the film's cast. Fans of the gothic lit book can see Elordi portray Frankenstein's Monster in theaters Oct. 17 and then stream on Netflix Nov. 7. The cast celebrated the Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 6 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Scroll through for more photos from the gothic black carpet.

">Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, known for his stunning dark fantasy and gothic horror films, is breathing new life into Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz round out the film's cast. Fans of the gothic lit book can see Elordi portray Frankenstein's Monster in theaters Oct. 17 and then stream on Netflix Nov. 7. The cast celebrated the Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 6 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Scroll through for more photos from the gothic black carpet.

" src=https://ift.tt/bmXigdE class=caas-img>The cast of "Frankenstein," directed by Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro, pose during the Los Angeles premiere at the Academy Museum on Oct. 6, 2025. From left to right: Christoph Waltz, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro, Felix Kammerer and Christian Convery.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/HxTgCN3 class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

The cast of "Frankenstein," directed by Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro, pose during the Los Angeles premiere at the Academy Museum on Oct. 6, 2025. From left to right: Christoph Waltz, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro, Felix Kammerer and Christian Convery.

">The cast of "Frankenstein," directed by Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro, pose during the Los Angeles premiere at the Academy Museum on Oct. 6, 2025. From left to right: Christoph Waltz, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro, Felix Kammerer and Christian Convery.

" src=https://ift.tt/HxTgCN3 class=caas-img>In the Guillermo del Toro-directed film, Elordi says Frankenstein's Monster "decides that regardless of all the hell and the anguish and the suffering ... he decides that he's going to live. I carry that with me after making the film and I'm incredibly grateful to Guillermo for sort of singing that song of hope."

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Jacob Elordi, who plays Frankenstein's Monster in the Netflix film, told USA TODAY at the Oct. 6 premiere in Los Angeles that the monster "represents our beauty and our innocence, which I think is something we're all greatly disconnected with at the moment."In the Guillermo del Toro-directed film, Elordi says Frankenstein's Monster "decides that regardless of all the hell and the anguish and the suffering ... he decides that he's going to live. I carry that with me after making the film and I'm incredibly grateful to Guillermo for sort of singing that song of hope."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/G7aS48l class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Jacob Elordi, who plays Frankenstein's Monster in the Netflix film, told USA TODAY at the Oct. 6 premiere in Los Angeles that the monster "represents our beauty and our innocence, which I think is something we're all greatly disconnected with at the moment."In the Guillermo del Toro-directed film, Elordi says Frankenstein's Monster "decides that regardless of all the hell and the anguish and the suffering ... he decides that he's going to live. I carry that with me after making the film and I'm incredibly grateful to Guillermo for sort of singing that song of hope."

">Jacob Elordi, who plays Frankenstein's Monster in the Netflix film, told USA TODAY at the Oct. 6 premiere in Los Angeles that the monster "represents our beauty and our innocence, which I think is something we're all greatly disconnected with at the moment."In the Guillermo del Toro-directed film, Elordi says Frankenstein's Monster "decides that regardless of all the hell and the anguish and the suffering ... he decides that he's going to live. I carry that with me after making the film and I'm incredibly grateful to Guillermo for sort of singing that song of hope."

" src=https://ift.tt/G7aS48l class=caas-img>"This is a project that he's been trying to make since he was 10 years old and he's worked with the same crew since 'Pacific Rim' and it was just joyful."

" style=padding-bottom:56%>"I've been a fan of Guillermo's since I was 11 years old, and I left the project just an even bigger fan of his," actress Mia Goth, who plays Elizabeth Lavenza in "Frankenstein," said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet. "This is a project that he's been trying to make since he was 10 years old and he's worked with the same crew since 'Pacific Rim' and it was just joyful."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/Khjad3Q class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

"I've been a fan of Guillermo's since I was 11 years old, and I left the project just an even bigger fan of his," actress Mia Goth, who plays Elizabeth Lavenza in "Frankenstein," said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet. "This is a project that he's been trying to make since he was 10 years old and he's worked with the same crew since 'Pacific Rim' and it was just joyful."

">"I've been a fan of Guillermo's since I was 11 years old, and I left the project just an even bigger fan of his," actress Mia Goth, who plays Elizabeth Lavenza in "Frankenstein," said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet. "This is a project that he's been trying to make since he was 10 years old and he's worked with the same crew since 'Pacific Rim' and it was just joyful."

" src=https://ift.tt/Khjad3Q class=caas-img>

"And that forgiveness and acceptance are the only way out."

" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The salient message of ("Frankenstein") is the need to understand that there's no you and I, but us, and that pain is transmitted from one generation to the next," director Guillermo del Toro told USA TODAY during an interview on the carpet premiere for the film.

"And that forgiveness and acceptance are the only way out."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/mnjETsl class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

"The salient message of ("Frankenstein") is the need to understand that there's no you and I, but us, and that pain is transmitted from one generation to the next," director Guillermo del Toro told USA TODAY during an interview on the carpet premiere for the film.

"And that forgiveness and acceptance are the only way out."

">"The salient message of ("Frankenstein") is the need to understand that there's no you and I, but us, and that pain is transmitted from one generation to the next," director Guillermo del Toro told USA TODAY during an interview on the carpet premiere for the film.

"And that forgiveness and acceptance are the only way out."

" src=https://ift.tt/mnjETsl class=caas-img>"We meet him before he's had any chance to construct anything, and it really shows you that the world tells you what you are. And the fact that he can be treated with such cruelty, but by the end find himself to a place where he can find forgiveness and compassion for the other, even when the other has been so cruel to him. And the way that then turns into him having compassion for many humans by his gesture at the end of the film, I think that very much reflects what's needed right now," Isaac said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet.

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Oscar Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein in Netflix's upcoming "Frankenstein" film, broke down what the Monster says about us and society. "We meet him before he's had any chance to construct anything, and it really shows you that the world tells you what you are. And the fact that he can be treated with such cruelty, but by the end find himself to a place where he can find forgiveness and compassion for the other, even when the other has been so cruel to him. And the way that then turns into him having compassion for many humans by his gesture at the end of the film, I think that very much reflects what's needed right now," Isaac said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/VPgy4DR class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Oscar Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein in Netflix's upcoming "Frankenstein" film, broke down what the Monster says about us and society. "We meet him before he's had any chance to construct anything, and it really shows you that the world tells you what you are. And the fact that he can be treated with such cruelty, but by the end find himself to a place where he can find forgiveness and compassion for the other, even when the other has been so cruel to him. And the way that then turns into him having compassion for many humans by his gesture at the end of the film, I think that very much reflects what's needed right now," Isaac said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet.

">Oscar Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein in Netflix's upcoming "Frankenstein" film, broke down what the Monster says about us and society. "We meet him before he's had any chance to construct anything, and it really shows you that the world tells you what you are. And the fact that he can be treated with such cruelty, but by the end find himself to a place where he can find forgiveness and compassion for the other, even when the other has been so cruel to him. And the way that then turns into him having compassion for many humans by his gesture at the end of the film, I think that very much reflects what's needed right now," Isaac said during an interview with USA TODAY on the carpet.

" src=https://ift.tt/VPgy4DR class=caas-img>Sara Karloff, the daughter of actor Boris Karloff, who played the Monster in 1931's "Frankenstein," poses with Guillermo del Toro at Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/EDUmAtW class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Sara Karloff, the daughter of actor Boris Karloff, who played the Monster in 1931's "Frankenstein," poses with Guillermo del Toro at Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere.

">Sara Karloff, the daughter of actor Boris Karloff, who played the Monster in 1931's "Frankenstein," poses with Guillermo del Toro at Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere.

" src=https://ift.tt/EDUmAtW class=caas-img>Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Christian Convery, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber and Alexandre Desplat appear onstage during Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere in Los Angeles.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/aWALk2P class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Christian Convery, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber and Alexandre Desplat appear onstage during Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere in Los Angeles.

">Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Christian Convery, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber and Alexandre Desplat appear onstage during Netflix's "Frankenstein" premiere in Los Angeles.

" src=https://ift.tt/aWALk2P class=caas-img>Mia Goth attends Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "Frankenstein" on Oct. 6, 2025.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/k5cjKFd class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Mia Goth attends Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "Frankenstein" on Oct. 6, 2025.

">Mia Goth attends Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "Frankenstein" on Oct. 6, 2025.

" src=https://ift.tt/k5cjKFd class=caas-img>Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro and Sara Karloff

" data-src=https://ift.tt/tN7rhEC class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro and Sara Karloff

">Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro and Sara Karloff

" src=https://ift.tt/tN7rhEC class=caas-img>Felix Kammerer plays William Frankenstein in Netflix's "Frakenstein."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/qD24CnL class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Felix Kammerer plays William Frankenstein in Netflix's "Frakenstein."

">Felix Kammerer plays William Frankenstein in Netflix's "Frakenstein."

" src=https://ift.tt/qD24CnL class=caas-img>Christoph Waltz

" data-src=https://ift.tt/jsEVIZW class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Christoph Waltz

">Christoph Waltz

" src=https://ift.tt/jsEVIZW class=caas-img>Sebastian Stan and Paul Walter Hauser attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/DMgold1 class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Sebastian Stan and Paul Walter Hauser attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

">Sebastian Stan and Paul Walter Hauser attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

" src=https://ift.tt/DMgold1 class=caas-img>Jacob Elordi

" data-src=https://ift.tt/jPFx3yn class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Jacob Elordi

">Jacob Elordi

" src=https://ift.tt/jPFx3yn class=caas-img>Mia Goth

" data-src=https://ift.tt/eSTfdJy class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Mia Goth

">Mia Goth

" src=https://ift.tt/eSTfdJy class=caas-img>French film composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat

" data-src=https://ift.tt/U9Xjbm2 class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

French film composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat

">French film composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat

" src=https://ift.tt/U9Xjbm2 class=caas-img>Guillermo del Toro and wife Kim Morgan attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

" data-src=https://ift.tt/AjBT95E class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Guillermo del Toro and wife Kim Morgan attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

">Guillermo del Toro and wife Kim Morgan attend the premiere of Netflix's "Frankenstein."

" src=https://ift.tt/AjBT95E class=caas-img>"Alien: Earth" and "Never Have I Ever" actress Richa Moorjani

" data-src=https://ift.tt/tOfjDm5 class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

"Alien: Earth" and "Never Have I Ever" actress Richa Moorjani

">"Alien: Earth" and "Never Have I Ever" actress Richa Moorjani

" src=https://ift.tt/tOfjDm5 class=caas-img>Janelle Monáe

" data-src=https://ift.tt/8PDSOI9 class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Janelle Monáe

">Janelle Monáe

" src=https://ift.tt/8PDSOI9 class=caas-img>Mia Goth

" data-src=https://ift.tt/Yf4cqra class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Mia Goth

">Mia Goth

" src=https://ift.tt/Yf4cqra class=caas-img>Oscar Isaac

" data-src=https://ift.tt/fW4AMCl class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Oscar Isaac

">Oscar Isaac

" src=https://ift.tt/fW4AMCl class=caas-img>Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro

" data-src=https://ift.tt/KD4UC6B class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro

">Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro

" src=https://ift.tt/KD4UC6B class=caas-img>Stephanie Beatriz

" data-src=https://ift.tt/L0qw2Si class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Stephanie Beatriz

">Stephanie Beatriz

" src=https://ift.tt/L0qw2Si class=caas-img>Jacob Elordi

" data-src=https://ift.tt/ewSFrsR class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Jacob Elordi

">Jacob Elordi

" src=https://ift.tt/ewSFrsR class=caas-img>Storm Reid

" data-src=https://ift.tt/EDs9SuY class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Storm Reid

">Storm Reid

" src=https://ift.tt/EDs9SuY class=caas-img>Jacob Elordi

" data-src=https://ift.tt/qEFtWJX class=caas-img data-headline="Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum" data-caption="

Jacob Elordi

">Jacob Elordi

" src=https://ift.tt/qEFtWJX class=caas-img>

1 / 26Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth attend 'Frankenstein' premiere at LA's Academy Museum

As for Elordi, "Frankenstein" couldn't have come at a better time.

"I was feeling really quite stuck beforehand," he says. "I had reached a point where I didn't know what I was doing, or I didn't like how I was doing what I was doing. And I feel like I was completely reborn when I got to play this character. I got to go behind a mask and hide. And in that, I got to sort of find something new.

"Making this film was an incredibly necessary thing and it's completely reinvigorated my love for movies and for performance. I feel like I have a whole new ceiling now that I'm sort of playing under that I hope to kind of break through."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacob Elordi felt 'stuck.' 'Frankenstein' made him feel 'reborn.'

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